Second division - day 24

Valladolid held on to their seven point lead at the top of the table after beating Ciudad Murcia 1-0 on Sunday evening. In the absence of the injured Llorente, new signing Manchev got the only goal on the half hour mark. Earlier in the day third placed Almería put in their claim for promotion with a 3-1 win over Salamanca. Despite having Cabrera sent off late in the first half, the Andalusians went ahead on the stroke of half time through Ortíz, and Larrea and Uche added two more after the restart before Bruno put through his own net in injury time.

Numancia moved up to fifth after beating Elche 1-2, a first defeat for the locals since David Vidal took over. It could have been different though had the home side not missed a penalty late on. Xerez are back to sixth following a 2-1 win over Poli Ejido, who they overtake in the table. But Hércules lose ground after they were held to a 1-1 draw by bottom club Vecindario, who are now twelve points away from safety.

Vecindario's neighbours Las Palmas are out of the bottom four on goal difference after a 0-1 win at fellow strugglers Lorca. They did have a helping hand though from the other Canary Island side Tenerife, who beat Castellón 2-0 to send Pepe Moré's side into the relegation spots. Elsewhere Albacete moved away from the danger zone after beating Málaga 0-3, new signing Calle scoring twice to end the Andalusians' recent mini-revival. (11.02.07)

Real Murcia beat promotion rivals Cádiz 1-0 on Saturday evening to consolidate second spot. Iván Alonso got the only goal midway through the first half to hand the Andalusians their first defeat in thirteen games. Sporting Gijón clocked up their first three points of 2007 with a 0-3 victory at Ponferradina, Barral opening the scoring in the first half and Omar and Diego Castro adding two more after the break. And honours were shared in a 1-1 draw between Castilla and Alavés, a Granero penalty cancelling out an earlier strike by De Lucas. (10.02.07)